News

A new U.S. Supreme Court ruling paves the way for states to require Internet sellers to collect sales tax from consumers — even if they don't have a physical presence in the state. (South Dakota v. Wayfair, No. 17-494, June 21, 2018)...

Employees generally hate change. Whether it's a merger or restructuring, or a simple change in the color of the office, studies show both staff members and managers resist. The reactions may seem irrational but change can suggest an invasion...

If numbers are a barometer of success and figures don't lie, how do we explain the following contradictory evidence: More than 50% of all chief executives of Fortune 500 companies had C or C- averages in colleges. Sixty-five percent of...

Thousands of cases are appealed to the U.S. Supreme Court every year, but usually fewer than 100 get a full-blown hearing and ruling. One case that made it through in the current court term is Encino Motorcars v. Navarro. On the surface,...

Your company needs an employee handbook or personnel manual to ensure that everyone understands the policies, procedures and rules. An Employee's Genetic Information Is a Protected Class The Genetics Information...

Screening job applicants is a cumbersome process but you can save time and money by making your company's website an integral part of your recruiting strategy. How? Design an online career center and applicant screening program. You can hire a...

Having an employee sign a separation agreement upon ending the employment relationship amounts to a form of insurance that he or she will not later take legal action against your company, based on the termination. Whether a separation was...

Customer relations are key to your business. But as your company grows, so does the likelihood that you and other executives will lose touch with your clientele. Over time, you may let go of the individualized treatment that you felt compelled...

E-Verify is about to play a critical role under the Trump administration. The electronic service, launched in 1996, is primarily a voluntary web-based system, though it could soon become mandatory. E-Verify enables employers to quickly...

The Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) reports the number of age discrimination claims remains high. The EEOC logged 18,3767 such cases during its 2017 fiscal year. Steps to Take What can you do to protect your...

To survive and thrive in a competitive marketplace, companies need to secure help and guidance from a wide range of sources.  To do so, many companies create advisory boards, or more formally, a board of directors to help guide them...

Most 401(k) plans permit hardship withdrawals, though plan sponsors aren't required to allow them. As it stands today, employees seeking to take money out of their 401(k) accounts are limited to the funds they contributed to the accounts...

Retaliation is the most frequently alleged basis of discrimination in the federal sector and the most common discrimination finding in federal sector cases, according to the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC). The laws...

  You can Boost profits by Retaining Customers.  You want to make your customers feel good, do small things for them, fix their problems, create a positive environment and Be Real. Read more in this QuickBooks Resource Center...

It is called the Japanese miracle — the kaizen teian — and the concept successfully provides a way for employees to propose more efficient ways to work. The History of Suggestion Boxes 1894: NCR Corp....

In any company, making employees familiar with more than one job is critical to developing the business and dealing with the unexpected. Held Hostage One company suffered for years with a highly paid controller who was a disruptive...

Travel costs can quickly mount for many companies, so you may want to look into videoconferencing as a way to keep the spending down and the bottom line solid. Surveys put the cost of the average domestic business trip at around...

Most employees want to fit in at work, but they also want to be comfortable during the one-third of their lives they spend on the job. That's why a dress code is essential at many companies and should reflect your industry, the part of...

Have you signed up for employer-provided benefits for 2018? November is open enrollment season at most offices. Benefits enrollment is a little trickier this year, because it's uncertain how tax reform legislation that could be enacted...

At the first sign of a southbound economy some companies rush into panic mode. They slash the staff and hope for the best. Certainly, labor is the biggest expense for most businesses. That's why many managers believe there is no faster, more...